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A PROPHET IN HIS OWN PLACE - 14th SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME (7/4/2021)
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Ezekiel 2:2-5
Psalm 123
2 Cor. 12:7-10
Mark 6:1-6
A PROPHET IN HIS OWN PLACE
Imagine that you were sent by the Lord to give a dire warning or a “hard word” to your family and neighbors in your own home town. Today’s readings describe the experiences of Ezekiel and the Lord Jesus doing that very thing. Prophets don’t have an easy time of it when preaching to their own!
EZEKIEL
Rebellious rebels who have rebelled against God! An apt description of the Israelites that Ezekiel was sent to at the time of the Babylonian Captivity. The first reading describes God calling Ezekiel to warn his countrymen of the impending invasion. The Lord prepared Ezekiel for this difficult task by telling him that his listeners will be “hard of face and difficult of heart.”
The Lord gives specific instructions: “But you shall say to them: Thus says the Lord God! And whether they heed or resist – for they are a rebellious house – they shall know that a prophet has been among them.” We know that they did resist and did not heed Ezekiel’s words. But as his predictions came true and Babylon did inflict a terrible punishment upon Jerusalem, the people did indeed know that a prophet had been among them!
GOSPEL
Today’s gospel presents Jesus teaching in the synagogue on the Sabbath in his “native place” – his own home town of Nazareth. The listeners, villagers who knew Jesus and his relatives, were astonished at his wisdom and mighty deeds, but at the same time “they took offense at him.”
Jesus proceeds to tell them that “a prophet is not without honor except in his native place, and among his own kin, and in his own house.” Because of the lack of faith he encountered there, Jesus was unable to work any mighty works, except for healing a few sick people. It is intriguing to learn that lack of faith can actually inhibit or limit what the Lord wants to do for us!
SECOND CORINTHIANS
In our second reading, St. Paul speaks about the mysterious “thorn in the flesh” that he had to endure – an “angel of Satan.” There has been a great deal of speculation as to what that might have been, but it is safe to say that no one knows for sure. All we do know is that the Lord did not see fit to remove it, instead telling Paul “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is made perfect in weakness.”
When we read the New Testament, we don’t usually think of St. Paul as “weak,” but it seems that he thought of himself that way – at least in certain areas. Paul makes some striking statements which, personally speaking, I always find to be encouraging: “I will rather boast most gladly of my weaknesses, in order that the power of Christ may dwell with me.” Because, Paul concludes, “when I am weak, then I am strong.” If someone like St. Paul had to depend on the Lord’s help in his weakness, we can be sure the Lord will help us in our weakness as well.
EYES ON THE LORD
Today’s Responsorial is Psalm 123: “Our eyes are fixed on the Lord, pleading for his mercy.” This seems to be the “key” to obeying the Lord when called to preach or prophesy to a rebellious people as Jesus and Ezekiel, and even Paul did. We also need to fix our eyes on the Lord as we deal with our own weaknesses, whether spiritual, emotional, or physical. May we all come to experience, as St. Paul did, the power of Christ helping us and making us strong.
